WESTERN BUREAU:
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has launched a scathing attack on the leadership of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), accusing the regional body of operating a “corrupt backroom operation” in relation to the reappointment of Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett.
In a lengthy statement posted on her official Facebook page yesterday, Persad-Bissessar alleged that the process leading to Barnett’s reappointment was “surreptitious, corrupted and flawed”, and criticised what she described as the organisation’s failure to respond transparently to concerns raised by Trinidad and Tobago.
Her comments follow a statement issued by CARICOM Chairman Dr Terrance Drew last week, which sought to dismiss allegations raised by Trinidad and Tobago regarding the reappointment process.
Persad-Bissessar argued that the chairman’s statement, which she claimed was crafted by Barnett, failed to address a WhatsApp message allegedly sent to the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) group on the morning of February 26, 2026, ahead of a ministerial retreat.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago prime minister, the message was sent to all CARICOM foreign ministers and was seen minutes later by that country’s foreign minister, Sean Sobers. She said the contents of the message were subsequently confirmed by Trinidad and Tobago’s CARICOM director with the chef de Cabinet at the CARICOM Secretariat.
NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
“Yet, to date, not a single member of the CARICOM Secretariat or CARICOM foreign minister who is a participant of that WhatsApp group has shown the decency, honesty or courage to acknowledge that Minister Sobers is being truthful,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She further claimed that the silence of regional officials had contributed to what she described as attempts to damage the reputation of the Trinidad and Tobago foreign minister.
The prime minister also levelled broader criticism at the CARICOM Secretariat, describing its leadership as “dysfunctional, dishonest and incompetent”. She argued that political patronage had replaced merit-based appointments, with managerial positions allegedly being filled by political allies and affiliates of regional parties.
Persad-Bissessar contended that while CARICOM promotes ideals of regional integration, integrity and inclusion, its operations are sometimes manipulated to maintain the dominance of entrenched political interests within the region.
COMMITTED TO BLOC
Despite the sharp criticism, she made it clear that Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to the regional bloc.
“Trinidad and Tobago has invested billions of dollars over the past 52 years into CARICOM and will not be exiting the organisation,” she said. “We helped build this organisation and will be a part of fixing it to benefit all the people of CARICOM.”
Persad-Bissessar added that she has written to the CARICOM chairman requesting documentation related to the reappointment process, including meeting minutes and performance evaluations.
“Surely there must be timestamped minutes, performance appraisals and other records,” she said, adding that even village councils and sports clubs maintain proper documentation.
She warned that the issue would continue to be pursued publicly until there is accountability and reform within the regional body.
“The Caribbean Community must face the rot within the organisation with transparency and honesty,” Persad-Bissessar said. “Hiding behind the glibness of diplomacy, fake sophistication and false narratives is self-defeating.”
albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com